The Charleston daily news. (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, July 08, 1868, Image 1

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V?T.TTTYTE VT -TOMBER 844] CHARLESTON, S. C., SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 2, 1868. [EIGHTEEN CENTS A WEEK BY TELEGBAPIL. THE GREAT CONVENTION. ?1A1F0RM OF PRINCIPLES. SLAVERY AND SECESSION DEAD ISSUES. Suffrage Left to the States. RECONSTRUCTION TJNGONSTITUTIOS AND VOID. .BONDS AND COIN TO BE TAXED. - NATIONAL BONDS TO BE PAID Di ...... GREENBACKS. SIX BALLOTS TAET.N-KO CE<TiC?. NEW-TOBB, Joly 7.-Peter Cagger and John Tl Devno, two prominent Democratic politi ?ciane, were thrown from their carriage this morning and Cagger killed. Devlin was seri? os^ injured.. \ In the Convention the death of Mr. Cagger .was announce! immediately -after that - body ?was called to order. Resolutions, which are understood to have teen drawn hy the Hon. Alexander H. Ste? phens, were read and referred. The name of ?Stephens was received with Iond cheering. The Committee on Resolutions presented their report, which was read, and unanimously adopted amid wild cheering and enthusiasm. Tbe leading plants of the platform thus adopt - .ed by the Democratic party are as follows: L Slavery and secession are to be regarded . tts dead issues. ' 2. Tho bon cl B of the United States are to be :paid in lawful .money {i. e., in greenbacks) un?; less their face calls for' coin. 3. Taxation is to he equal upon all deeorip tions of property, including coin and govern? ment bonds, and there is to be but ona curre n cyfc*alL ?. 4. Econony is the administration of tbe gov? ernment, the reduction of the army and navy, , -the abolition erf-the Freedman's Bureau and of inquisitorial modes of collecting the revenue, are insisted on," 5. A. tariff for revenue is to be substituted for that now ?ristin g. 6. The Btrtofc.;subcrdination of the military to the civil authority is to be enforced; *- 7. The restoration of aU the States and am ? nea ty for all political offences-including the . restoration of suffrage in all the State?-are -advocated. ' ' "' ' . v . 8.. The control of suffrage belongs ezcJuaive ly to each ?tate. Congress has -usurped it in violation of the constitution, and the Bocon? e?os traction acts are unconstitutional and void. 9. Pr?sid?t Johnson :4A thanked for 'his c ourse, and, : in . conclusion, all parties are in? vited to unite on this platform. '.; - The Convention then proceeded to the nomi? nation of a candidate for the Presidency. Co nn ecticu t ?o ruinate d es- Go vern or En eli s h. DHno? hom^^ ? -~ Maine nominated Hancock and Pendleton. New Jersey nominated. Mr. Parker, Presi? dent Johnson, Mr. Packer ancTMr. Church. Many others were nominated, but the name of Chief Justice Chase was not mentioned. The hist ba?ot resulted in a vote -105 for Pehffleton, .the. remaining votes being made scattering, mostly emt of compliment merely. The Southern vote on tbis ballot was cast al? most unanimously fox-President Johnson. . The second ballot teau?te?r' Pendleton 99; Packer 23; Johnson 52; the rest scattering. - South Carolina, ern tho first ballot, cast her ?ix vote? for President; Johnson.- Six success? ive ballot?were tiken^but there waa evidently no ~ disposition to', reach ? nomination to-day, as -mrh?t -of the large Northern States throw away tb$ir votes. The name o? Mr. Chase waa not brought be? fore the Convention, in accorda nco with his fr. own wish that Wshoold not be nominated un? less there ' seemed to be a'certainty of his choice. jT^?"ltnoirfng^ahle represents the strength of the fonr jaincapal candidates for thendm?? nati^nt CAsnrDAXsa. 1st ?2nd I 3rd I 4;h j 8th | 6th Pendleton.;_.... j 105.103 Johnson....:.'..... 63 52 Hancock.......... : 331 40K Hendricks......... .... ..... 9^6 117* 39 43 1221122X 22 31 46| 47.N 191 30 Besides theae it must be understood that tbe scattering vote was: very large. Indeed tbe balloting during the day-was merely skirmish? ing, and at the close oi the sixth ballot, when the Convention adjourned until IO o'clock to? morrow, there was no indication of the final re? sult. Virginia voted.for Pendleton on the third ballot, which was received with cheers. Geor? gia voted for Blair. The grand contest will open to-morrow. OWr European ^ Disputer*ec. [FEB ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH,1 LONDON, July 7.-Advices from Japan repre? sent thai-twelve Daimioshad combined against the Mikado. PASIB, Jury 5.-In the Corps L?gislatif yes? terday the discussion of the budget was con? tinued by M. Jules Favre. He said France and ? neighboring power? desired peace, and tbe government of the Emperor must, decide whe? ther its policy be for peace or war. Minister Ronner replied that on tbis finan? cial question the attack of the opposition, which he characterized as an attempt against abe empire, wa? weak and worthy only of scorn A strong.army waa? pledge of peace. By her acta France would preserve peace and inde? pendence, but aO nations must ever be pre? pared for the contingency of war. France had no hidden designs, but she could not consent to disarmament, for no confidence could be placed in the fraternity of nations. H. Rouber,in a subsequent speech closing foe debate, said the Emperor's government accepted the idea of German unity "and recog? nized tbs rights of nationalities, and the only war possible for France was one in defence of of her territory, ber honor or her influence. It is reported that furloughs are to be _ granted to the rank and file of the fifth corps d'arme. VTZRNA, Jory 5.-The Arts tr.'an Government has initiated in the work of disarming by issu? ing leaves of absence to. thirty-six thousand ?menin the standing army.' New? from Havana. HAVANA, July 7.-The cholera is decreasing, the cases now being generally mild. Mexican advices report that the crops bave failed, and that a panie is feared. Mississippi Election. JACKSON, (MISS.,) July 7.-Returns from all tbe counties but two give a Democratic ma? jority of eleven thousand four hundred and . five. There have been rains h?re for three imlays past, and tbe crop prospects are fide. ) From "Washington. SPECULATIONS CONCERNING THE SEW TOBE CON? VENTION. WASHINGTON, July 7.-The Convention ex? perta here are totally at sea regarding the re? sult? Chase's friends are stol confident that a -strong movement in bia behalf witt occur on the tenth or twelfth ballot. Hendricks is re? garded as having the best chance among those now in nomination. Shrewd politicians con? sider the contest between Hendricks and Chase. The warrants in the Treasury in Jane amount? ed to thirty millions. The Committee on Foreign Affaire have re? ported adversely on Collector Smyth's nomina? tion to the Austrian mission. The Congressional Republican Committee have advices that the Democrats have carried Mississippi. Their correspondents charge fraud. CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. . Is THE SENATE, after unimportant business, the consideration of the Tax bill was resumed An amendment was offered taxing cigarettes not over three pounds $1 50 per thousand. Without concludi og, the Senate adjourned. Is TEE HOUSE, Stevens introduced impeach ment articles, and asked foe their reference to a committee. It was postponed to Monday. The consideration of the Russian-American appropriation was resumed, and a night ses? sion ordered, after which the House adjourned. FROM THE STATE CAPITAL, YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS IN THE LEGISLATURE. BY TELEGRAPH IO THE DAILY NEWS. [rsoM ons OWN BE POR TER. 1 - COLUMBIA, July 7.-The Senate, on assem . bling this morning, proceedsd to ballot to de? termine which of the senators should serve for two years, and which for four years, with the following result. For the Term, of Two Yean.-Senators Cain, Coghlan, Duncan, Hoyt, Jill s on, Maxwell, Nash, Reid, Rogers, Sims,. S wails, Whitt omore and Wimbush. For the Term-of Four Tears-Senators Young, Leslie, Wright, Corbin, Dickson, Donaldson, Arnim, Rutland, Rainey, Allen, Buck, Owens, "Hayes, Hayne, Montgomery, Bieman, Ran? dolph, Foster ?nd Bose. Mr. Whi tte more offered a resolution embody? ing a ratification of the Constitutional Amend? ment, which, after some discussion, was adopt? ed, with onlv. five votes in the negative, viz: Messrs. Bock, Bieman, Reid, Bogers anti Sims.' The message of Governor Orr was then re? ceived and read. A resolution of thanks for the information that it contained was then adopted. Adjourned. In the House no business of importance came np. Gov. Orr's message was read and the varions matters of which it treats were re? ferred to appropiate committees. . ? Tho Constitutional Amendment wan made the spacial order, for to-morrow. Adjourned. A letter of Charles Sumner's, written to one of the politicians here, bas created quite an excitement among the aspirants for senatorial honors and their immediato friends. Sumner . says that be wants to see a colored United States Senator, and suggests Cardoza aaa 'snliable man. The colored Democrats here paraded to-day and bad a barbecue. ' '" - '. : ' "". : ' TEX LEG ISLATTTRE-FULL REPORT OF THE PRO CEEDrNGS OF MONDAY. C?LCHELA, S. C., July C, 1868.-A Legislature "of South Carolina ia once more in session. The body assembled at high noon, and drew a large audience of spectators, Two halla havo been neatly fitted np in Jan ney's building near the postofBce, on. Market-street, for the accommo? dation of members ; but the best efforts- of carpenter, painter, cabinet maker and uphol? sterer, cannot destroy the outer appearance, wbicb continually remind one of contrasts.. The House, as organized, ia by no means so strong a body as the late Convention. There . are not more than three or four talking men on the ? cor. and probably bat ono who is likely to lead-I refer to W. J. Whipper. The Demo? crats are not ia yet, and the stuff of which they are made is not yet known. The Senate embraces the best speakers and * "talent in the party, it is noticeable that every prominent man in the Convention, with one or two exceptions, hts bis place here. The dis? position manifested lo-lay was conciliatory, but it is not likely to ??main evenly so until after the acrimonious contest for the senator ship ceases. The vote on this question-will be taken on Tuesday next, and there is some talk of ad? journing from Thursday catii that day. THE SENATE. The Senate was called to order at 12 M.; and on motion of Mr. Hose, of York, Major D. T. Corbin was appointed chairman. Prayer was offered by Rev. B. H. Cain. The chair called at- .ntion Li the fact that the ordinance of th? '.-invention provided that the president of that body should swear in the president pro lem. On motion of Dr. Pearce, a Committee on Credentials was appointed, consisting of Messrs. Pearce, Leslie and Whittemore. On motion of Mr. Whittemore, Mr. Joseph Woodruff was appointed secretary pro tem. The chair called the MI and nineteen sena? tors responded to their names and were sworn. A quorum being present, the Senate was an? nounced to be ready for business, namely, the election of a president pro tem. in the absence of Lieutenant-Governor Boozer. (It is said that he is detained by illness. ) Mr. B. F. Whittemore nominated Major D. T. Corbin and that Senator was elected viva voce. He expressed his thanks for the honor conferred upon one who was comparatively a stranger, and called attention to the import? ance of the work before the body-saia he hoped they would faithfully and diligently ap? ply themselves to its performance. Mr. Bose, of York, commenced to read a pro? test against the admission of the Senators from Andereon, Marion and Lancaster. J. J. Wright, (colored,) objected on the ground that the persons relerred to had not vet presented themselves. The name of Mr."J. H. Reed, from Anderson, being called, he responded, whereupon the Committee on Credentials re? ported in favor of bis admission under Order No. 124. As he was about to be Bworn, J. J. Wright desired to know the difference, if any, between the credentials of senators from An? derson, Marion and Lancaster. The secretary read th6 order, and Wright then moved that the senator be admitted. B. F. Randolph moved that the member from Marion also be admitted. He said be thought the Sen? ate was bound to respect the order of Gen? eral Canby until the Fourteenth Article or Constitutional Amendment had been passed, because until then we were und:r military rule. The choir said the question was whether General Canby'a order was sufficient prima lacie evidence for the admission of these sena? tors. R. H. Cain suggested that they bad better' get regular credentials. . Mr. C. P. Leslie .Baid no-the certificate of General Canby was credential enough. Mr. B. F. Whittemore hoped the senators would be sworn in and allowed to keep then seats anfil something turned un which required their rejection. Mr. RoBe again undertook to read his protest against the admission of Mr. J. H. Reed, cf Anderson, and asked indulgence until to-m< row to submit proofs. A senator inquired whether General Can had a right to issue an order of the kind ont 2d d&y of July, after the State had been ? mitten. Mr. Whittemore replied that it was not subject for the consideration of the Sena The order must be considered prima facie e dence of th s right of tbe members to be swc in. Tbe protest could be made afterwarc when the Senate was in a condition to act. The qnestion being taken, it was decided the affirmative, and the senators from Mari and Andersen were sworn. A motion being made that the Senate p: ceed to the election of a permanent Secreta Mr. Jos. Woodruff, of the Charleston Couri and Mr. L. BoozeXj of Lexmgtoa, were hoi nated. The former was elected. On motion of Mr. Leslie, be was penniti to appoint an assistant secretary. On motion of J. J. Wright, a committee nine was appointed to consider nominatic for other offices. On motion of Mr. B. F. Whittemore, the 1 porters were admitted to the .floor and tab provided for their accommodation. A recess of thirty minutes was taken to all tbe Committee on Nominations to repo which tbev did as follows: For Chaplain, Bev.E. J. Adams (colore; of Charleston; Beading Clerk, T. M. Corbe of 8umtcr; Doorkeeper, Adam Thomas (coli ed), of Columbia; Assistant Doorkeeper, Mt Brooks, of Maiion. The report was*adopted On motion, the Chair appointed C. P. Les! J. E. Jihson and R. H. Lain to oommunici co the House that tbe Senate was organiz and ready to proceed to business. Mr. Whittemore, offered the followin Whereas, it is customary for tbe outgoing I ecu ti ve of tbe State to communicate to the IA islrtnre a statement of the condition of pub affairs and of the public institutions. Be it Resolved. That His Excellency JamerL. O Provisional Governor, be invited to send this body any 'communication bearing np the welfare or prosperity of the State, i journed. THE HOUSE OF HEFBESE5TATIVES. Tbe House assembled at 12 M., was called order by B. 6mall, of Beaufort (colored), a on hie motion, Mr. J. H. Jencks was appoint temporary obairman. The chair returned thanks, and said bebop that the body now assembled would perfoi its duties faithfully and with a view solely th? advancement of tbe public interest and t good of the people. On motion ot R. C. DeLarge, T. K. Saap< tas (colored) and General Carlos Stolibrai were appointed temoorary secretaries. Mr, F. J. Moses, Jr., said that before f business of the House proceeded further in i aug nra ting a new system of government 1 South Carolina, it was proper that the Divi blessing ebould be invoked. He therefc moved that Bev. E. J. Adams be called np for prayer. Mr. Adams delivered a brief but earne prayer, the House rising. . Mr. Moses moved that Dr. A. G. Mackc the President of the Convention, be call upon,- in accordance with an ordinance passi by that body, to swear in tbe presiding office so that the latter might administer the prop oatb.to members. On motion of B. C. DeLarge, a committee three, consisting of DeLarge, Neagle ai Whipper, was appointed to wait on the Prei dent of the Convention. William McKinlay, of Charleston, moved th a committee of Ave be appointed to examjj credentials. Mr. Moses moved as an amendment that tl general order of General .Canby be taken as guide of membership. Tbe amendment beii accepted, was agreed to. Tbe President of the Convention having a rived, said: 'T am here, in pursuance of tl order of the Constitutional .Convention, to a minister the oath of office to the- temporal .chairman of this house." He also gave notit Quit - he bad Ailed, the blank in the rhirtiel section of the second article referring to tl ratification of the Constitution by the peopi with the dates "fourteenth, fifteenth, and si: teenth of April, 1868." Turning to the chair be said: "Are ye readv?" "I am, sir." "Do yon swear ora firm?" "I affirm." The oath of offi.e was the administered : "I do solemnly affirm that I am duly qua) fled according to the Constitution of the Un ted States and of thia State to exercise the di ties of the office to which I have been elect et and that I wiU discbarge to the best of na abilities the duties thereof; that I re co gui J the supremacy of the Constitution and laws < the United States over the Constitution ac laws of any State; and"that I will support, pr? tect and defend tbe Constitution of the Unite States and tbe Constitution of South Carolin : as ratified by the people on the 14:h, 15tb au 16th days of April, 1868. -So HELP ME GOD." Dr. Mackey then declared the President pi tem. to be formally inaugurated and 6worn. Mr. Moses moved that the oath be now at ministered to the members as they came fo: ward in response to tbe roll call. Mr. Stollbrand suggested thai the membei be sworn by Districts. W. McKinlay (colored) inquired as to tl propriety of interrogating every member as i whether be is excluded by the Constitution Amendment, or disabled thereby, and move that it be don?. R. C. DeLarge moved, as an amendmen that no person be allowed to take the oath < office who may be disfranchised when the lit Article becomes a part of the Constitution. W. J. Whipper said he could not see the n< cessity for this motion. They were now actin under certain orders, and were not yet a Legit laturc. There was in fact no Constitution! Amendment. If, however, a man qualified in properly be was amenable to the laws, and b did not believe any gen tl em an on the flee would take the oath falsely. After debate, a member from Sumter move to lay the subject on the table. Mr. Moses objected-subject was too impoi .tant, &c. Disagreed to. . [Ibe real object of the movement with rel erence to test votes - at this eirly stage, is a] leged to be tbe rejection of aa many Corser vatives as possible, with a view to the defea of Mr. P. A. Sawyer for the senatorsbip.] W. J. Whipper again urged that the Legis lature had no right to reject any man who he!? the certificate of General Canby. They wer simply here as individuals, and bad not evei been organized. A? J. Randier contended that the Constilu rion of the State provides that no person coule hold office who is disqualified by the Constitu tion of the United States until the disqualifi cation is removed. Being still in a proviaiona condition they were still subject to the' will o Congress, and it was not proper even for on? holding a certificate to take a test oath covered even prospectively by the 14th article. The resolution oz Wm. McKinlay was tbei agreed to, DeLarge having withdrawn hie amendment. The roll was now called, and the members responding by districts, arrayed themselves respectively in front of the desi. ; When the Abbeville delegation appeared, the chair inadvertently administered the oath with? out putting-ihe question as to the disqualifi? cation of individuals nuder the Constitutional Amendment, and appealed to the House to al? low him to put the interrogatory. W. J. Whipper said-I object. The vote has been taken. If these members have perjured themselves, they have no right to tell of it. The Beveral delegations were then sworn in their alphabetical order. W. J. Mixon, of Barn? well, announced that be could not take the oath. The call 'or Anderson was reserved un? til the last, and when made, Messrs. John B. Moore ana John Wilson appeared, and said they were not disqualified. Mr. Moses, how? ever, said be bad a disagreeable duty to per? form in presenting tbe protest of N. J. Newell and J. R. Cochran, against the admission oi the gentlemen; and gave notice that he would present the proofs in evidence hereafter if the parties were ordered to stand aside. Mr. Moore asked for tba charges and specifi? cations against his colleague and bimsen, and said he was prepared to meet them at any time. Mr. Moses said howculd furnish the charges hereafter. The two members then stood aside while their colleagues were being sworn. ?It is understood that other seats will be contested when claimed.] The preliminary business being finished, W. McKinlay moved that they proceed to the election of a permanent speaker, and it being agreed to, he noniinated Mr. F. J. Moses. Jr., Mr. Cue of Beaufort nominated Mr. J. H. Jencks. W. J. Whipper (colored), Baid : I rise to make BtiU another nomination and to preface it with some remarks. Personally, I have nothing to say against Col. F. J. Moses. Politically, I seriously object to bis nomina? tion, He ie already the Adjutant and Inspector General of the State, and a member of thiB House, and I contenu that he cannot, without doing injustice to the public interesta, ac? ceptably perform the duties of both of these offices. But I am opposed to him for another rea? son, and I tafe the responsibility of stating it upon thia floor, altbough it involves a grave and dangerous issue. I claim the speakership of thia body for a colored man, and I am not ready to support a white man for the office. I know that these remarks will be reiterated a thousand times within the next'twenty-four hours, but necessity drives me into the posi? tion, and I do not shrink from- it I say, then, boldly, that the course pursued by thia party has been a hostile one,-and it bas been carried to an extent that can no longer be, endured by the colored people who hold the votes of the State. You may say this ia a dangerous issue. If it be so, ripon the white members of this body reBt the consequences,, whatever they may be. From the first organization of the party it bas been their aim-and by the assis? tance of a few dupes they have succeeded beautifully-to obtain every position in the gift of the people. They'have gobbled up every? thing. In tbe Convention at Charleston it waa urged that the colored- man should be held back, or it would injure the party. In the Convention that nominated Congressmen he waa held back. Upon the State ticket we also yielded, and to-day we are expected to yield "again, that a white man may ride on our backs into the power which he would deny to us. What was conceded to the white man aa a favor seems now to be regarded as a right. But I say here emphatically that if it has been expedient heretofore to elect a white man, the time has come when it is expedient to elect a black man. There is not a person on ibis floor who is not. entitled for hie position to tie votes of my race, and yet you have per? sistently shoved ns to tbe wall. ' We have bad ? enough of this one-sided policy, and I now propose to change it by the nomination of B. B. Elliott as the Speaker of the House of Re? presentatives. : B. C. De-Large (colored), said he regretted' that the question with regard to color bad. been raised, or an attempt made to appeal tot. the baser passions. For one he desired to see* no such distinction made in the party. Tho) character of tbe man was more important than the texture of his Bkin. He hoped that tba, remarks of the member from Beaufort would7 produce no impression on the minds of the ' ' Legislature; but as for their influence ont? side be knew full well they would be circulated/ broadcast to the detriment of the party. In sV: former convention a resolution had been in? troduced with reference to the elevation of a colored man to the Yice-Piesidency; that reso? lution added a hundred thousand votes against tbe Republican cause in Ohio, and thia would do the same in the next election. He appealed to the manhood of colored me n-to chen: self respect-to votefdown tbe nominee of the gen tlemon from Beaufort, and show io the world that they recognized no distinction in the choice of their officers. W. J. Whipper responded. Said be expected {nat Buch a speech to come from one who bad >een made one of tbe tools of lees competent white men for their own selfish purposes. It was tune that one or two colored men occu? pied important offices, but the majority were rewarded like the gentleman by being patted upon the shoulder after some oratorical effort and told that he had done very wei!. He desired to make the issue boldly and to insist that the Republican party shall do something for those who represent the largest proportion of the votes ol South-Carolina. He asked it not asa privilege, but demanded it as aright. They had Buffered enough from political outrage and did not propose to endure it any longer. It was too late to tell the colored man that he had better not ask for any position because the party couldn't stand it, they bad too great a load to carry. If the Republican party cannot stand the weight of justice due to the'black man, let it go to pieces. ( The House took a recess until five o'clo?t> It was moved ondcarriod tha-t-a-mtrjority of votes bo required to elect. G. W. Wilder nominated for Speaker A. J. Ransier (colored). Tho House then proceeded to vc Ling, with the following result: F.J.Moses.. 63 IT. B. Elliott.37 Scattering. 5. Total.105 , Mr. Moses was thereupon declared elected. Elliot, Ransier and De Large were appointed a committee to wait upon the Speaker elect. Mr. Moses, upon taking the chan:, delivered a long address, in the course of which he criti? cised the \"slave-ocracy'' of old South Carolina, and spoke in disparaging terms of the customs 'and traditions of the State. The speech was overloaded with tropes and metaphors, more like the effort of a self-amncient Sophomore than the wise and well considered utterance of the leader of a legislative assembly. A committee was. appointed to wait on the Senate and inform them that tho House waa ready to proceed with business. Mr. Tomlinson effered the following: Resolved, (That his Excellency Provisional Governor Orr " be invited to forward to this House any information he may possess relative to the condition of the State. The chair stated that il was not usual to adopt Buch resolutions until the Boase was thoroughly organize!. . Mr. Tomlinson sugge:ted it would not then be proper to receive a message from bis Ex? cellency except ss a private conciernan. W. McKinlay desired to know if he was not already ont of the executive office byreasou of the order of General Canbv ? R. C. DeDarge moved that the word "late" be inserted before "provisional." ' The amend? ment was agreed to and the resolution adopted. A committee of one from each district was appointed to nominate the remaining officers necessary to perfect the permanent organiza? tion, and the House then adjourned. Speaking of the under current on Saturday last, a New York dispatch says : t'The anti Pendleton men wanted the Territories to be on the committee io select permanent officers, and the Pendleton men insisted that this belonged to the States excluiively. The Convention adopted the latter course. The discussion was a lengthy one, but, though earnest, there was no bad feeling. Ohio led one wing and New York the other. Ihe Pendleton forces had the numbers, but were deficient in leadership and organization. New York showed all her wont? ed skill. Among the Southerner? there were many eloquent men and skilful parliamenta? rians, but they sat as quietly m their Beate as if they bad never opened their mouths in their lives in public. They voted, nevertheless, and take the position that they will vote on all questions as they arise, avoiding anything re? sembling display." The asphalte pavements in Paria are soft end sticky this month. With a walking stick you can make a deep hole. "One of those little ladies" was walking over the Boulevards, when the pavements were in thia Btate, in a most ravishing costume, with little boots whose heels were as high as an instep and as pointed as an epigram should be. She literally stuck on the pavement, which gave way under her and held ber as in a vice. She fifed lo put her best foot foremost-firsther left, then ber right -but could not move, and, finally, was cut out with couteau de chasse by an enterprising gamin who was passing by. Rocheiort relateB in his Lanterne a coffee? house conversation: Guest-'-Waiter, hand me La France.'' Waiter- "Yon shall have it, sir, as soon i.s tbs gentleman yonder has read it. I will bring you La France as soon ts it is free." Guest-"As soon as France is free? Good heavens ! then I shall have to wait a long while." THE MOST PERFECT IRON Toma-HEGEMAK'S FEBEATED ELIXIR OF BADE.-A pleasant cordial, prepared from calisaya bark and pyro-pbes phate of iron, posBeeBing the valuable proper? ties of iron phosphorous and calisaya, without any injurious ingredients. As a preventive to fever md ague, and as a tonic for patients re? covering from fever, or other sickness, it can? not be surpassed. It ia recommended hy the most eminent physicians. Prepared by Hegc man & Co., New York, and sold byall respect? able druggists in the United States. MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR ORR. Gentlemen of Pie Senate and Soute of Representatitet; While no legal official relation exists between the present Executive and the General Assembly, I avail myself of the opportunity to communicate. to your respective bodies the information and statistics which have come to my knowledge during my Ed ministration, pertaining to the material and educa? tional intere its of South Carolina. The reports here? with transmitted to you from the various executive officers, and others connected with the public insti? tutions, embrace a period between the adjournment of the last session of the General Assembly in 18CC, and the present time. They constitute a part of the archives of the country, and without them there would be a void ia the history of the various de? partments to which they refer, during the time in? dicated. Thc reports of most of the officers of the St)te, and of those connected with public institutions, have been brought np to the 1st day of May, under the impression that my administration would cease about the middle of that month. Without further preliminary observations. I pro? ceed to call your attention to the several subjects matter of public interest, and to such other tacts as may facilitate the discharge ot your duties ss legislators. THE PUBLIC DEBT. By reference to the report-cf the Comptroller-Gen? eral, addressed to this Department on the 25th of No? vember, 1867, a copy of which is herewiih transmit ted, it will be seen that the entire public debt of the State, on the 1st day of October last, together with the I ri tere-t which thad accrued np to the same date, amounted t? 28,378,255 64. Deducting ft om this sum all the bonds and stocks issued between 1860 and 1S65 lor military purposes, and the interest on the same, amounting to $2,854,679 08, the debt due by the State on the 1st of October last was $5,523, 576 56. Of this sum 35,407,215 23 ls the principal and 3116,861 33 is interest Wnlle this debt is small as compared with that of many other States, yet in the present impoverished condition of thc peop'e of South Carolina, the annual psyment of 3331,414 69, which is the interest upon the debt at 6 per cent., in addition to the rr aintenance ol the State government, would be excessively oppressive. The contingent liability of the Stale from endorse? ments of railroad bonds, is as follows: South Carolina Railroad bonds, payable In 1888, secured by first mortgage. ...$2,093,312 40 Charleston and Savannah Railroad bonds, payable in March,1877,secured by first mortgage. (?05,000 00 Northeastern Railroad bonds, payable March 1,1869, secured by first mort? gage.. 92,000 00 laurens Railroad bonds,payable in 1879,. . secured bv first mortgage. 75,000 00 Spartanbnrg and I nion Railroad bonds, payable in 1878 and 1879, secured by first mortgage.;.... 350,000 00 'Greenville and Columbia Rjilroadbonds payable in 1881, 1882,1883 and 1886... 945 471 21 Of the endorsements upon the Greenville and Columbia Railroad bonds. $700,000 is un .'er authori? ty of the net of 1861, and $203,848 89 is under th; authority of the act of 1866. paued for the purpose ot enabling the company to pay the interest past duo and to fall due prior to the 1st of January, 1868, np on coupons and upon the mortgage and guaranteed bonds. This cu a ran toe is upon certificates of in? debtedness. The sum of 241,622 88 is upon the outstanding debt of the company, upon which there is no hen-the guarantee having been made where the holders of demands upon the company sur? rendered three dollars of demand for one dollar of bonds. The ordinance of th; Convention, adopted on the 15th .of March, 1868, declares "l hat all acts or pre? tended acts of legislation, purporting to have been passed by the General Assembly of the State, since the 20th day of December, A. D. 1860, pledging the faith and credit of the State for the benefit of any corporate body or private indlridual, are hereby sus? pended and declared inoperative until the General Assembly shall assemble and ratify the same. It is unnecessary to enter into any discussion at the present lime concerning the legal f ree and ef? fect ol the ordinances passed by the Convention, various opinions being entertained as to the ques? tion of their legal validity. But in any point of view, to remove all apprehoniioa upon the subject of the bonds of the Greenville and Columbia Rail? road Company, jaow held by citizens of the State, and guaranteed by the State,'1 recommend that the Act of 1801, authorizing the issue cf 39(10,000 of bonds, and the Act of 1606, providing for the guar? antee of certificates of indebtedness, and also of bonds one for three to satisfy other indebtedness of thc company upon whtch_ no hen existed, be vali? dated by the action of your body.' Persons holding bends under the Actof 1861 bold them in lieu of the original mortgage/ bond? due them by the com? pany, which mortgage bonds were surrendered to the company-the guaranteed bonds of the State being taken in payment of the same upon tho faith of the Act of 1831. It would operate as a gros? fraud upon these bondholders now to dec?ate their bonds void. Common honesty would require, if the act is not validated, that all persons holding guaranteed bonds should be allowed the privilege of surrender? ing the sa-ne, and of receiving in lieu thereof the original mortga;e bonds or their duplicates. These remarks apply with equal force to the bonds of the Columbia and Au^nrta Railroad Company, and bonds of the South Ciro!Ina Railroad Company, sad are entitled to your early consideration. It is believed that bonds thus endorsed to the amount of nearly 33,0JO,0O3 will be promptly liqui? dated by the companies as they fall due, and that the guarantee of the state will be discharged to that extent. As to the remainder, there is more doubt; but In no contingency is it probable tba-, in conse? quence of the failure of the companies to meet their bonds, the State win have to provide for more (htm S'00,000. The report of the Comptroller-General further shows that the cash balance on hand on the 1st day of October, I860, amounted to.3211,100 83 That the receipts from all sources lrom the 1st of October, 18CC, to the 1st of October, 1867, was. 454 302 23 ? Making a total of..3603,493 06 This includes Bills Receivable $222,000, which bad been signed, clipped and carried to cash, pursuant to the provi? sions ol the Act of 1865, authorizing their issue, i he expenditures during the same period were. 3474 453 37 Leaving on the 1st of October, 1867, a cash balance in the Treasury of. 191,039 CO The report of the Treasurer, made to this Depart , ment and herewith transmitted, shows the opera? tions of the Treasury from the 1st day o: October, 1867, to the 1st day of May, 18C8. From this statement it will be perceived that on the 1st day of October, the bal? ance of cash on bond was... 3191,029 69 The total receipts of the Treasury from all sources since that time has been..-. 303,387 73 Which, added to the cash OD hand, made the available means of the Treasury.. 494,427 42 The total expenditure during the same period has been. 393,881 16 Leaving, on the 1st day of May, a cash balance in the Treasury of. 95,546 26 Ibis amount will be very materially reduced du? ring the month of May by the presentation of claims against the Treasury for payment before the expira? tion of the term of the present administraron. It will be observed, from the ?report of the Treas? urer, that the Convention levied a fax which it was supposed would realize the sum of 375,000. Sum dent returns have not been received from the va? rious tax- olkctore of the State to enable him to say whether the calculation will prove correct The actual sums drawn lrom the Treasury, by order of Major-General Canby, to defray tho expenses of the Convention, amount to $110,000, which is an expen? diture of $35,000 more than was provided (or by the tax bill of the Convention, assuming that said bill raised the estimated amount By tho Act of December, 1863. authority was given to the Treasurer and Comptroller-General to issue $500,0 0 of Bills Receivable. These officers found that it was not necessary to print more than were embraced in the first contract with the engravers, to wit: 3390,(00. Of this sum only 3222 000 have been signed an l carried to cash in the Treasury. On the 1st day of May, 1868, there was outstanding and in circulation of these Bills Receivable only $130,687. TAXES AND TAXATION. No duty is ever devolved upon the legislator in? volving such delicate and ramified interests as that which looks to the creation of a Just and equitable system of taxation. Ic is an accepted truth in politi? cal economy, that in levying taxes upon a communi? ty, it should be done in a manner which will enable tb tm to pay the same with tbe greifest facility, and wittiont unnesessary oppression. The sudden change in the system of labor which bas prevailed in South Carolina for so many years; the destruction of more than one half of the estimated wealth of the State by the abolition of slavery; the devastation of einen, towns, villages, f irms and homesteads, by the rav? ages of war, and by invading and retreating annies ; the disastrous drought which existed throughout tue State in I860, cutting off almost entirely the cot? ton and ?rreatiy reducing the provision crop, thereby rendering it necessary to purchase large supplies from abr ad tor the subsistence of the population; tbe great reductiou, in many section-* of the State of the cotton crop of 1SC7 by the spoliation ot the cater? pillar and boll worin ; and thc pressure cl drhts con? tracted anterior to the war, when the basis of wealth end credit was so essentially dirt'?reat from thp.t which exists at the present time, aiinonish us that the p<-op!e of South Carolina are unable to bear a burilen of taxation whicb, prior to the accumulation of these misfortunes, would have been deemed mod? erate and inconsiderable. Whether, therefore, you look :o the contentment of the population, cr the material prosperity of the State, it is the dictate ol wisdom that you should exercise the most rigid economy, and i educe expenses by curtailing talar.es and ili?petbing with all appropriions not absolutely necessary to the administration ol the State govern? ment The taxa ion of the pre'tnt and pre.'eding year hast been a sutject matter of great complaint. The large number oi traci s of land, as well as other property, levied u; on by sheriff* in tue various districts, for non-payment ol taxes, unmistakably evinces the ex? treme difficulty encounttred by citizens in raising money to meet tbi? de i;and oi the State. Whenever taxation becomes thus oppressive upon a population, its influence cannot but prove disa-troue, because it tent's first to demoralization, to dishonesty, to the making cf lalee returns; and secondly, it *s calculat? ed to drive trom the State a valuable portion of the community, to seek otber localities where the rertu neration of their labor and capital is not paraly 2 by Ench heavy burdens. The expenses of the Convention, and cf the pres? session of your Legislature-whose labors cannot, justice to the various changes proposed in the n Constitution, be terminated short of four month) will, of. themselves, add to the expenses of the Sti not less than $250,000. Tho judiciary system, whi you are required, under the Constitution, to put ii operation, will prove much more expensive than tl which now exists, and add to these burdens. To illustrate: The expenses of grand jurors for t City of Charleston, and for the county, assuml that they are occupied but three days at each ten will be $13,824. For petit jurors for the Count of Si slons, three terms for city and county, assuming average ot five days per term, $51,840. For petit j rors for Courts ot Common Pleas, city and count two terms, five days per term, $34,56u ; making a to expenditure for Jurors alone, under the new Cons tutioc, of $99,224. The whole expense for jurors and constables i the year ending 1st Cctober, 1867 (and this includ them for the District Conrts), amounted to or $42,292 88; showing a necessary increase of expen for this service alone of $56,93112. This evil may be obviated to some extent by mo? fying the law so as to provide for panels not excee in ; eighteen in number for grand jnr. rs, and twe ty-four petit jut ors, with authority to supply the d fl cien cy at the term of the court, should there be an by drawing taits jurors. 'J he expense of dioticg prisoners will not be le than $50,000; for continuing the construction of tl Penitentiary and for guarding and subsisting co victs, not lesB < usn $75,000; for salaries, according estimates, SS0/1 JO ; for contingent accounts, $60,0u for public print ng, 810,000; for contingent fund the Executive Department, $20,000; for the Luna! Asylum, $20,00. ; Sot the Cmverr.ty, 912,000; f claims against the State, $10,000; for other expense ordirary and extraordinary, $40,000; making a sn total of $476,224; to which add for expenses of tl Legislature, 9160,000; for deficit the present ye under General Canby's ?ttx order, ending October 1868, $100,000; und $331,41459-being the interest 1 the State debt due 1st October, 1868-and the arnon: to be raised by taxation will reach the enormous sn of Si,057,038 59, without one dollar being appropru ed for free schools. To redeem the bills receivable, which m ry be on standing on the let day of October next, to pay tl interest upon the State debt which may be due that time, and to furnish sufficient funds to carry < the operations of the State Government until tl taxes may be collected in the spring of 1869, Ir commend that $1,000,000 be borrowed by the Sta upon bonds, provided the bonds can be disposed at nd greater discount than twenty per cent. It is now believed by the financial officers of tl State, in which opinion I concur, that the tax ord of General Canby, together with the tax levied t the Convention, will npt realize to the treasury mo: than 9378,000. There ls one striking and et en alan lng fact with reference to the pecuniary and flnanci condition of the State, to which it is here proper advert. Kot withstanding the order of General Cant provided for a more particular and accurate assei ment of zeal estate the present year than has bet made heretofore, a revision of the assessments shov avery con sideral de decline In the'value Of ill re estate and town property. Land i in the country ai wot th from fifty to one hundred per cent less thi they were on the 1st of September, 1865. Nearly 1 great a depreda ion exirtfl in the villages, towns ai cities of the State, especially where the lots are n yielding rents. The above estimate, which it will 1 necessary for you to provide for, embraces only tl ordinary expenses of the State Government and do not include the amount necessary for free or publ schools. If the taxes of the present year proved 0 press 1 ve to all blanch? of mdu;try ia the State ai Welded but $875,000. the expenditures of the ne year should, if possible, be curtailed by the redn tion of salaries and otherwise, so as not to exce? that sum, exclusive of the interest on the pub! debt By the new Constitution, the poll tax is required be appropriated exclusively to educational purpose and, under the circumstances, it would be unwis in my Judgment to appropriate any other sum. the taxing power is always a delicate one to ma age, and is in varia Wy regarded by the tax-payer wii jealousy. In the recent political changes that ha1 ?.curred, the lact cannot be denied that the Gener Assembly are the representatives of a very inconsti ersble proportion of the property holders and ta: payers of the Stite. The colored population, wi constitute the large majority of voter?, have litt propf-rtv; and yet, all the expensive machinery 1 co;: rta, juries, jails and the penitentiary ls as mut to give protection to their persons and property os the tax-payer himself; and lt would seem to be on right and proper that some portion of this burden 1 taxation should be borne by this most numerous cia of society. If the General As8em0ly;regardless pf the; views, should levy thc entire tax of the State upc property, it would necessarily lead to much di - sat! faction and dis oatent among the class thus taxed verv many of whom are not only prohibited from fi: in; any official position In the State, but are acr ally excluded from the privilege of the elective fra chise. THE BANK OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA. In estimating the contingent liabilities of the Stat the notes issued by the Bank of the State of Soul Carolina, amounting, according to the report of tl President to the Legislature, dated 1st October, 180 to $3,807,549 61,.were not embraced, for the reaso that iu my judgment, there is no legal liability di volved upon the State to make good an * portion 1 this Issue. This report shows that the issues of tl bank of notes under one dollar, up to and since 186 amounis alone to the enormous sum of $790,000. . is not stated what sum in bills above the denomlm tion 0; one dollar were issued after December, 186 but it ie believed that a very large amount was ai vac ced to the Confederate Government. The new Constitution, ia one of its clauses, e: pressly prohibits the payment of any debt "coi true ted in behalf of the late rebellion." In the uv j ent instance, it ls impossible to distinguish whi bilis were Issued prior to and since the beginning'! tho war. If, however, no objection of this sort ?: isted, there would be, ia my opinion, no liability G the part c f the state to redeem any portion ot thee bills. It is true, that thc capital was originally i a rushed by the State, but the bank was an incorpora ed institution, liable to sue and be sued, and the bil holders can enforce the some remedies against it an moke its assets hable as aga'nst auy other bank. Th obligation of the State to receive bans bills in th payment of taxes, is qualified by the provision th; the banks must be specie paving institutions, and n such obligation exists unless the notes are rt deeme in specie. A bill has already been flied in the Court cf Chan eery for Charleston Distnct, by Dabney, Morgan 1 Co., blUholderB, against the 1'rer ' it and Director of the Honk of the State of Sou.- Carolina. Th Attorney-General called my attention to the fact an desired to know whether it was my purpose to hav an answer filed in behalt of the State. Entertalnln the opinions already expressed, that there is no li: Milty on the part of the State, I instructed the Atto: ney General that it was my determination to take n notice whatever nf the proceedings. If the Genera Assembly should arrive at a different conclusion they can adopt such a course as will ensure the rep refutation of the State by counrei upon the trial 0 the cause. THE OREE.-TTLLE AND COLUMBIA RAILROAD COM PANT. ^ This Company issued its bonds in $52,1853 ant 1854, to the amount of $800,000, and secured pay ment of the eame by first mortgage upon the road In 1861, when the debt wr.s snout tolling due, thi General Assembly authorised the Comptroller-Gene ral to endorse the guaroittee of tho state upon th? bends ot tho - eafcpauy to the amount ot ?900,000 thereby pledging the faith and funds of the State foi the payment of the principal and interest of sale bonds-?800,000-to redeem and cancel the mortgagi bonds, and the remaining $110,000 to liquidate th? then floating debt of the Company. In conform! tj to this act the first mortgage bonds were all redeem ed except ?326,000. KThe act provided that the?e original mortgage bonds, when taken up and deposited with the Prest dent of the Bank of the State, should stand as securi? ty to the State and give the State a hen under thc first mortgage until all the bonds now secured by mortgage should be retired. These mortgige bonds were deposited from 'ime to time as they were ex? changed with thc Bank of the State of South Caro? lina. The act further provides, that when the whole of the mortgage bonds shall have been redeemed by the guaran teed bonds, the whole estate, prop-r.y and lu. ds of the Company within ?he State, which they shall then have, v,r afterwards acquire, 6haU stand pledged and mortgaged to the State without any further act or deed on tho part of the Company, for the faithful and punctual payment of those guaran? teed bonds, in preference to any other de t which the Company may owe. The par?es holding the outstanding $326,000 of original mortgage bonds, have neglected or refused to surrender them, and tuken in thtir stead the guaranteed bonds afcresa'd. som- of these bond nolders, repreientio^* about $80 COO, a year ago riled a bill in the courts to foreclose the mort? gage and force the road to a sale. This was resisted by '.he Company und by counsel represeuting tte State, subsequently a bill WM filed bv those hold? ing the guarani ed bonds, very properly mr.i.tohi infj that when surrendered by thtni tho bends were dimply retired and not. redeemed or j>a-;d until the conditions of the ac: were fulfilled ; end claircittg that they should be permitted to come in and stare equally with tho original bondholders in tte j. ro cecdi of the sale; and lUrther, tua: the r?servation by the state of the original "itu for the benefit of the state should be declared to inure to their btnetr, which would seem to be honest and proper. subsequently, enotnerbill was rileu by a class ci creditors who represented the second guarantee upon its road. With the view of hiving all parties in interest properly before the court, the Attorney Geneial was Instructed to ?le an imormation in the nature of "e cross bill and bill tor injunction and re? lief," in which bill all suits and creditors were en? joined from proceeding further against the Comps. ny,and required to come- in as partici d?tendant to the bill flied by the Attorney-General. It i- msiite.l in this bill that the State, er the parties hf Idtcg the guaranteed bonds of the State, tball be permitted to 6hare equally in the pro:eeds resulting from tte sale of the road und its entire estate, if it should be sold; and there is little reason to doubt that euch will he the deciaicn. eince it is so manifestly just. Any other deiirlcu would operate as a fraud upon the State and ih?gaaran:eed Oomtholders. These ca.-e?h?ve not beeu brought to a final hear tat, and it ts nc: known whether the court, at thv in? stance of a vet y small portion cf thc bondholder-', representing less thin one-teu:b cf the general in? terest cf that class, will prrmi: Hiern summarily to ,'Orecloee tte mcrtgage and brmir-.te road to sale; ? bat? nave felt uto be my duty to lay tue subject before you and invite to it your sp?cial attention, in consequence of the large Interest which the State owns in this corporation. Its interest as a stockholder.$433,360 00 Under the act of 1861, in guaranteed bonds, (only $700,OOC of the $900,000 authorized have been actually endorsed). 700,000 00 Under the act of 1866, endorsing certifi? cates ol indebtedness to pay interest and coupons.,. 203,81889 Under tbe fourth section of the act of 1866, where demands have been surrendered three for ore. 41,622 38 Which makes an aggregate of.... .$1379,43127 If an arrangement could be made by which the re? maining $328,000 of original mortgage bonds could be redeemed and cancelled, there would be no pres? sure of creditors which would interfere with the op e rations of the road for years to come. There could be no greater misfortune to the pub'ic, br no pro? ceeding more ruinous to the state, than that the road should be brought to sale at a time when the financial embarrassments surrounding individu?is and corporations are so wide-spread. If a decree should be made for its sale, it ls not improbable that this large Interest of tho State would be enr.rdy ' lost, and that the people, by future taxation, will have to make good tho whole amount of the guaran? tees upon the bonded debt,,to wit: 1945,029 87. I therefore recommend that provision be made for the satisfaction of the original mortgage bonds upon some basis fair and just alike to the State, the com? pany and the creditors; or, if that cannot be done that such action may be taken as will, to some ex? tent, at least secure the large interest of the State in this corporation, in the event of its being ordered tb be sold. I have toi t it to be my especial duty to post? pone and defeat the foreclosure of the mortgage, at least until tb* subject could be brought to the at? tention of the General Assembly, and ampio time lie given your body to make such provision to guard the state against ruinous lo?a, os in your d scretioa may bejudicious. THE BLUE nrnoE EJUXEOAD. I commend, with great. earnestness, to your favor? able consideration the comple'ion of the Bine Eidgo Railroad. This national highway, intended to con? nect the great West with the sea, was commenced In South Carolina long before the inception of any of the enterprises in the North and Ease looking to the same end, and more than thirty years ago enlisted .the active energies ot the brightest intellects of the State. The financial crash or 1837, however, sus? pended this great work sher it had reached the City ol Columbia; but, in 18153 or 1853, it was again re? vived, a new line of surrey was adopted and the work was carried on with redoubled activity. The war alone prevented its completion. The interest of the State, financially and com? mercially, in this undertaJting cannot be over-estima? ted. Tbe stock which it now owns in the company amounts to $1,310,600, and unless the work shall be accomplished, this large sum o? money will necessa-. ri ly bf come a total lo sa to the State,- in addition to losses which wi 1 result from the depreciation of stock in other roads whose prosperity is absolutely dependent upon the success of this undertaking. In round numbers, the whole amount heretofore ex? pended on the road is $3,250,000. The road has been completed, and ism nuning order from Anderson to walhalla, a distance of thirty-four miles. Near the latter place it penetrates a spur ot the blue Ridge Moonta n by a tunnel a little more than one mile in length, and upon this tunnel two-thirds of the work bas already been completel. Much of the grading and masonry In the remaining territory of South Carolina, 'Georgia and North Carolina has also been finished. It is estimated by skilful and competent engineers that the entire sum requisite to complete the road, put it In running order to Knox? ville, and stock it with motive and car power, will notexceed $3,600,000. From Knoxville to Marys? ville, there is already nearly completed a section of twenty miles of the road, end it la understood that the Legislature of Tennessee has appropriated a sufficient sum per mile to purchase the iron and erect the bridges necessary to complete tho con? struction to tbe North Carolina line The advantages of this nute over the 'Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and Eastern Hoads are most mamfesr. The trains will not be in? terfered with to the same extent during tnt winter season by the heavy freezes which prevail at the North, and .his road may therefore be worked more regularly and economically throughout the year. In addition to there advantages, a very material swing will be effected In the transportai-ion of all' supplies seeking a market upon the seaboard from the West, and upon all goods, passengers and emigrar.ts going from the seabord to the West Cincinnati and Louis-, ville are brought one hundr ed miles hearer tbe coast by this ro-ite than by any other now in operation or which has been projected. Tho advantage which thia road will possess over every oth.--r terminating upon the Gulf of Mexico, is manifest. All the sup? plies carried by these roads to the gulf por.s for for? eign markets must necessarily round the capes of Florida, wbere the navigation is dirri cult and danger? ous, to say nothing of the larger consumption of ti r. e in reading the markets of the .world, and the increased cost of transportation upon steam and aiUing vessels, by the increased rates of insurance required. ?very consideration, therefore, which can move a people in the promotion of a great enterprise, should'' operate upon the citizens of South Carol1 na and in? duce the speedy completion of thc Blue Bidgc Bail toad. When finished it becomes the great feeder of every ether railroad in the State.. It will not only furnish freights for transportation, but in a gi eat de? gree add to the trade and prosperity of every village; town and city in the Commonwealth. The present bonded debt of the company, for which a mortgage has been executed, amounts to about $230,000. But as tho rood terminates upon the edge of the mountains, stops short of any con- . nectlng lines and is dependent alone upon the pro? duction of a small tract of country between Ander? son and Wadalla, lt has not yielded a sufficient reve? nue to pay even the interest upon the first mongage bonds. The bondholders have net yet instituted any proceedings to foreclose tbe mortgage, and it will be a most unwise financial policy for the State to allow it to be done and the road to be sold out for so paltry a sum, when its sole would transfer all that has been done, toge'her with the estate and rradebises of the. company, to strangers, and thereby lose to the State and her citizens-to the individual stockholders and to tte City of Charleston-the enormous sum of. $3,226,000. It ls, therefore, indispensably necessary that some steps should be taken to redeem this out? standing debt of $230,000-the first mortgage bonds -which constitute the only existing lien upon the company. The Legislature authorized the company to issue bonds under their first mongage to the arnon, t of one million of.dollars; but the company, exercising a prudent precaution, suspended the work about the commencement of the war, when they had issued, as already stated, only $230,000. It ia highly important that these bonds'faould bo prompt? ly renewed, by substituting bom" J guaranteed by the State for thc principal and int ere-.- :, and that steps be taken to resume the work at the earliest pnrctics-~ ble day, looking to ita completion. THE SOUTH CABOLISA PEMIEVXiABT. * I transmit you herewith the -eport of Major T. B. Lee, Engineer, Architect ai .Superintendent of the Penitentiary, covering the operations and progress of the work up to . e 1st of January, 1868. Also, a supplemental report of the operations of the Peni tentiary from the 1st of January to tte 1st of May, lSv-?. Also, the report of the commission appointed by Major-General Canby to investigate certain charges of harshness and cruelty towards .convicts made against the Superintendent; embracing the minutes of the commission, the evidence taken, the opinion of tbe board, and accompanying ctocnicents. ' I'rom the report of Major Lee, it will be observed that, although by the act of September, 18ec, author? ity was given tne Governor to appoint three com? missioners, to select a site for the Penitentiary, and an appropriation of $20,000 was mode for the erec? tion of temporary cell?, there. was little or no pro? crea? made with the work until January, 1867. Since that time, the work hus been pushed forward with remarkable energy and economy, and the construc? tion, as l'or as lt bas been extended, will show a larger amount of labor performed than was ever be? fore done in South Carolina for the samo amount of pubic money. Upon examining the original report, it will be seen that the \alue of the work and material on hand up to the 1st of January, 1;68, was $72,171 79, the cost of which to the State, including the expense of sub? sisting and clothing the convicts, paying officers sod puard?, and sub-isting the guards, was only $72,- " 139 87. The supplemental report shows that the value of work done and material on hand from the 1st of January to the SOth ol april, 186H, was $26,- ' 219 47, from which amount is to be deducted the sum of $4450, te ng the worth ol material on hand on the 1st of January; and the aggregate of expendi? ture for the same time was $23,004 76, showing a hajt.uce of rxpenditnre in excess of reccints of onlv $1,285 20. ' Thia result shows that thc convict has not only sustained himself by his labor, but has placed the State in possession of a building and material nearly equal in value to tbe entire expenditure required both f.r the construction of the Penitentiary und the maintenance cf tte convicts. I he Superintendent's report also exhibits the grati? fying fact that the cost of supporting a convict, ic? e-hiding c'.cithirjg, diet, guard and medical attention, since ute ls: day of January last, haa been only thir ty-iour cn*-, each per day; and that the average cost, iacluCmg the above items, from thc date tte first convict was received, is but iorty-oae cents per dav. j.lie rapid progress which hts been made in teach? ing various med anica! employments, necessary to the construction of tho building in all of its parts, as well as for the shoeing and ciothiug of thc convicts, has enabled the Superintendent io dispense with all h'red labor, with the exception ol foremen of some two or three of the most important departments, such as quarrying and laying stone ic the wall. The entire report will fbow tiiat this most imper? t?, n: S'atc institution has been satisfactorily admin? istered ia all of its affairs, and promises, if the same goed management is continued, to yield from ?te labor of convicts, wheu completed, a handsome an? nual revenue to the Treasury of tte State. The abili? ty and fidelity of the officer in charge of tue work fur? nish every guarantee that it will bc energeiical'.y pressed arid speedily completed, and with an econo? my to which the people of South Cai olina have here? to" ore been strangers in tho erection of public work?. The u'iea: advantage of establishing a penitentiary is illustrated by the fact that the 2c0 couvn ts sent there, thus .'ar. have not only earned their subsistence; l ut by t'ueir labor Lave also materially coi tributed 13 the erection ol the prison, 'ihesc prisoners, uu: for ito pfcL:tenr:ary, weald have be-ju lodged in jail, at an [Cineluded on Frour:h Pag f.]